The men are wanted on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. One of the men was slim, white and wearing blue jeans and a black jacket with grey sleeves.

The other was slim, mixed-race and wearing a dark coat and dark trousers.

Police Constable Laura Bristow, from GMP’s North Manchester Division, said: ‘This was a terrifying and sickening attack on an eight-year-old girl and her father as they went about their daily business.

‘Luckily the father was not seriously injured. However, the young girl was so distressed and intimidated that she fell to the floor in fear. One of the attackers threatened the victims with a knife and we could easily have been dealing with a very different situation.

‘We are doing everything we can to identify the two men responsible for this callous crime and bring them to justice.’

The attack happened at around 9.550am, at the Lime Square complex of Fairfield road in Openshaw on February 20, though police have just launched an appeal in the hope members of the public will be able to help with their enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call officers at North Manchester police station on 0161 856 3502 – or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.